Illuminated display case



Feb. 27, 1934. G PKINS 1,949,253

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY. CASE Filed June 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fab, 27, 1934. G. J. HOPKINS ILLUMINATED DISPLAY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1953 George Hop/fins flaw Mummy Patented F eb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES ILLUIVHNATED DISPLAY CASE George J. Hopkins, Kendallville, Ind., assignor to McCray Refrigerator Company, Kendallville, 11111., a corporation of Indiana Application June 2, 1933. Serial No. 674,076

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to illuminated display cases and more particularly to means for preventing visible reflection of the illuminating means upon the glass panes of such display cases.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a novel type of illuminated display case; to provide effective and efficient means for illuminating such display cases; to provide means for illuminating the interior of display refrigerator cases without imparing the efficiency of the refrigerator; to provide concealed means for illuminating the interior of a display case; to provide means for illuminating the interior of a display case but preventing visible reflection of the illuminating means upon the glass panes of such display case; and, to provide a display case of the character above indicated which is novel in construction, utilitarian in use and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display case, here shown in the form of a refrigerator but it will be understood that the invention may be used in conjunction with show cases or other nonrefrigerated display cases;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Figure 1; and

'Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Heretofore display cases, both refrigerated and show cases, have been provided with illuminating means which are reflected in the glass panes through which the customer or prospective purchaser views the goods or food products therein.

This reflected illumination is not only distasteful to the customer or prospective purchaser but it likewise detracts from the displayed goods or posed therein, permitting customers and "prospective purchasers to view the food products dis played within the refrigerator; likewise provided-with multiple spaced insulating Sliding doors 4 panes of glass 5, 6 are disposed at the rear of the case to afford access to the interior thereof.

The top member 7 preferably of porcelain clad metal, has a depending U-shaped plate 8 at each of its ends having bolt-receiving apertures subto stantially medial thereof and the opposite ends of these U-shaped plates are secured to the under side of the top member in any suitable manner as by spot welding, as best seen in Figure 3. A bolt 10 passing through the aperture of the U-shaped members and suspended therefrom, passes through an aperture of brackets 11 secured to each end of the case as by screws 12 and wing nuts 13 detachably secure the top member to the case.

This top member projects laterally and forwardly of the case and is provided with a de pending or overhanging portion 14 lying adjacent the inner longitudinally disposed forward frame member 15 of the case and forming a canopy forwardly of the spaced angularly disposed glass panes 2, 3. The inner side of the frame member 15 is non-reflecting in character, its surface being covered with a dark fabric 16 or the like secured thereto in any suitable manner or if so desired. the surface may be blackened.

A light shield 1'7 projecting laterally from the depending outer end of the topmember toward the angularly disposed glass panes 2, 3 is pivotally secured to the lower edge of the depending outer end 14 of the top member 7 and is upwardly swingable to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 to give access to the incandescent. lamp 18 secured within its socket 19 mounted on the bracket 20. A conduit 21 for the electric wiring 22 connected with the lamp socket projects through an opening 23 at one side of the case as best shown in Figures 2 and 4.

It will thus be seen that the top member 7 forming a canopy and the tiltable light shield 17 projecting laterally from the lower edge of its overhanging portion 14 forms a recess for the incandescent lamp 18 and its socket 19 and that access to the recess for inserting or replacing the lamp 18 is had by manually tilting the light shield 17- upwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3.

The lamp which is located exteriorly of the refrigerated interior of the case so that refriger= ation is unimpaired by heat generated thereby. provides illumination of the food products within the interior of the display refrigerator and the non-reflecting character of the fabric covered or darkened surface of the frame member, together with the light shield, prevents visible vention has been herein shown and described, it

will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a canopy mounted upon said case and disposed over said lighting means, and a light shield pivotally connected adjacent the lower edge of said canopy and projecting laterally therefrom toward said pane and below said lighting means.

2. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a top member for said case in the form of a canopy projecting forwardly therefrom and disposed over said lighting means, and a light shield pivotally connected to the lower edge of said canopy and projecting laterally therefrom toward said pane and below said lighting means.

3. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a top member for said case projecting laterally and forwardly therefrom and having a depending outer end disposed over said lighting means, and a light shield pivotally connected to said depending outer end and projecting laterally therefrom toward said pane and below said lighting means.

4. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a canopy mounted upon said case whose inner surface is non-reflecting in character and disposed over said lighting means, and a. light shield pivotally connected to said canmeans opy and projecting laterally therefrom toward said pane and below said lighting means.

5. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a top member for said case projecting laterally and forwardly therefrom and having a depending outer end disposed over said lighting means whose inner surface is non-reflecting in character, and a light shield pivotally connected to said depending outer end and projecting laterally therefrom toward said pane and below said lighting means. v

6. In a display case having a glass pane therein and lighting means disposed adjacent said pane and exteriorly thereof for illuminating the interior of said case, of means for preventing visible reflection of said lighting means upon said pane comprising a top member for said case projecting laterally and forwardly therefrom and having a depending outer end disposed over said lighting means whose inner surface is non-reflecting in character, and a light shield projecting laterally from said depending outer end toward said pane and below said lighting means and upwardly swingable with respect to said outer end to give access to said lighting means.

7. In an exteriorly illuminated refrigerator display case having insulating spaced angularly disposed glass panes, means for preventing visible reflection of the illuminating means upon said spaced panes comprising a canopy mounted upon said case and disposed over said illuminating means, and a light shield pivotally connected adjacent the lower edge of said canopy and projecting laterally therefrom toward said panes and below said illuminating means.

8. In an exteriorly illuminated refrigerator display case having insulating spaced angularly disposed glass panes, means for preventing visible reflection of the illuminating means upon said spaced panes comprising a top member for said case projecting laterally and forwardly from said angularly disposed glass panes and having a depending outer end disposed over said illuminating means whose inner surface is non-reflecting in character, and a light shield projecting laterally from said depending outer end toward said panes and below said illuminating means and upwardly swingable with respect to said outer end to give access to said illuminating means.

GEORGE J. HOPKINS. 

